JMH Realty Concepts - Realtors · Property Management

As the weather gets colder it is very common for us to hear that tenants have less hot water. To some degree this is normal. Here Is why.

In the summer, the supply of water enters your building at about 70 degrees.
In the winter it enters the building at 40 – 45 degrees.
A hot shower is about 100 degrees.
An average hot water tank is 30 gallons, set to 120 degrees.
An average water flow is 1.5 gallons per minute. Therefore,
A ten minute shower will use 15 gallons of hot water, about half of a 30 gallon tank.

In the summer after 15 minutes, the average temperature in the hot water tank is still 95 degrees, (15 gallons @ 120 degrees and 15 gallons @ 70 degrees), although the temperature coming out will still feel hotter, since the water is not completely mixed. (The hot water draws from the bottom of the tank where it is hottest, and the cold water supply comes in to the top).

In the winter when the supply water is colder, after the same shower the average water temperature will be only 80 degrees, (15 gallons @ 120 degrees, and 15 gallons @ 40 degrees), a big difference. The hot water tank is still functioning properly, but because the water coming in is so much colder, the hot water runs out faster.

A 30gallon GAS hot water tank will reheat completely in about 45 minutes. A 30 gallon ELECTRIC hot water tank will take 1.5 hours.

There are some things that can and cannot be done to make things more comfortable.
You cannot change the law of physics, BUT you can do the following.

1. Don’t waste hot water by letting it run before your shower.
2. Don’t run the dishwasher or washer before a shower.
3. Adjust your shower water to be slightly cooler. This will extend the time.
4. If you have a roommate, try not to shower back to back.

With a little thought and adjustment, any inconvenience can be minimized.